India XI win by four wickets against Pakistan XI

AHMEDABAD: Indian XI won their tie against the formidable Pakistan XI by four wickets at the Indian Cricket League (ICL) 20-20 World Series being played at the Sardar Patel stadium on Monday.
Chasing a competitive target of 166, set by the Pakistan side after they were put to bat first, Indian team were home with 167 for six with five balls to spare.
Ambati Rayudu with 65 off 47 balls, laced with eight boundaries and one six was the top scorer for the Indians who eased to victory piping the ICL 20-20 Champions.
After losing opener G Vignesh (1) in the first over, Ibrahim Khaleel and Rayudu took charge and put up a 67-run partnership for the second wicket. Khaleel was the caught by Abdul Razzak off Arshad Khan in the 10^th over after scoring 36, leaving India at 80/2.
Stuart Binny was the next to go for 8, followed by skipper R Satish (3) barely adding to the total which was by the time 105 for 4 in the 13th over.
After the wicket of Rayudu (65) in the 16th over, Pakistan hoped to turn the game upside down. But with experienced Hemant Badani on crease, their hope could not be converted to reality.
With Badani's unbeaten knock of 32 off 22 balls, India cruised to victory with four wickets in hand. RS Sodhi was not out for 5. For the Pakistan side Mohmmad Sami and Arshad Khan bagged two wickets each, while Razzaq got one.
Earlier, the Pakistan opening duo Imrans Farhat and Imran Nazir could not get off to their usual explosive start, with Jesuraj Rajamani Jesuraj scalping Farhat in the first over, for a duck.
Jesuraj struck again in the 3rd over, cutting short the innings of Imran Nazir (16) to leave the Pakistani at 23/2. The in-form Rana Naved in company of Shahid Yousuf got into the repair act, taking the score to 73 in the 8^th over till G Vignesh picked up Yousuf with 13 runs against his name.
India introduced its premier spinner Ali Murtuza in the crucial 10th over who struck immediately with his first ball, getting the big wicket of Rana Naved out for a 44 off 31 balls. His innings laced with 7 fours and one six.
Just when skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and Abdul Razzaq were working up a wonderful partnership, Murtaza struck again and scalped Inzamam for 24.
Razzaq too perished to an irresponsible shot in the 15th over to give India the upper hand as Pakistan were 118/6 at that stage of the innings.
Pakistan was restricted at 165/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
For India it was Murtaza and Jesuraj who emerged the most successful bowlers picking 3 wickets a piece.
Brief Scores: Pakistan XI 165/9 in 20 overs (Naved Ul Hasan 44, Inzamam24, Murtaza 3/28, Jesuraj3/31); India XI 167/6 in 19.1 overs (Rayudu 65, Badani 32, Sami 2/32, Arshad 2/30)